A Clear Victory for Air Power: NATO's Empty Threat to Invade Kosovo

Abstract

Andrew Stigler of Dartmouth College challenges the conventional wisdom that Slobodan  Milošević surrendered control of Kosovo because of growing concern over the likelihood of a NATO ground assault and punishing defeat. According to Stigler, “the threat of continued and intensified aerial bombardment was the only necessary military condition for Milošević’s decision to accept NATO’s terms” of surrender. Only in hindsight, argues Stigler, do signals from the United States and NATO that a ground operation was being planned appear credible.